What does Senator Lincoln do in her role as “Chair of Rural Outreach”?
Blanche L. Lincoln, Chair of Rural Outreach
As she did in the 109th Congress, Senator Lincoln will again serve as Chair of Rural Outreach. This position was created in the last Congress as a sign of the Democrats’ strong commitment to aggressively engage and communicate with rural Americans. In this post, Senator Lincoln will continue guide rural outreach for the Caucus and find new ways to reach rural, suburban and exurban American communities.
The good:
Senator Lincoln has sponsored legislation to support the Delta Regional Authority.
She issued a “Rural Report Card” detailing Bush’s failed rural agenda.
Senator Lincoln sits on the Agriculture Committee and is part of the Rural Health Caucus.
The not so good:
Lincoln was among the minority of Democrats to support CAFTA. (Right, because these trade agreements have been excellent for the agriculture and manufacturing sectors that rural areas depend on.)
Lincoln voted in favor of restricting class action lawsuits and tightening rules on personal bankruptcy. (That should help alleviate the crushing rural poverty in the Senator’s home state.)
Lincoln was one of the few Democrats in Congress to vote in favor of the 2001 Bush tax cuts.